cordon

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˈkɔː(ɹ)dən/ See IPA manual

Freq #18046

Meanings

1

noun
A line of people or barriers placed around an area to guard or block it.

Police formed a cordon around the crime scene.
2

verb
To close off an area with a line of guards or barriers.

Officers cordoned the streets leading to the square.
3

noun
A ribbon worn across the chest as a sign of honour or rank.

The general wore a bright red cordon across his uniform.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with cordon

cordon off Phrasal verb C2

to prevent entry to an area by surrounding it with a rope or similar barrier

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to close off an area with a... cordon off

Word family

Forms cordonedcordoningcordons

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

cordon off
to prevent entry to an area by surrounding it with a rope or similar barrier

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English cordon, from Middle French cordon, from Old French cordon, diminutive of corde. More at cord.

cordon Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# cordon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɔː(ɹ)dən/
**Frequency rank:** 18046

## Meanings
1. A line of people or barriers placed around an area to guard or block it.
2. To close off an area with a line of guards or barriers.
3. A ribbon worn across the chest as a sign of honour or rank.

## Examples
- Police formed a cordon around the crime scene.
- Officers cordoned the streets leading to the square.
- The general wore a bright red cordon across his uniform.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: cordon

## Etymology
From Middle English cordon, from Middle French cordon, from Old French cordon, diminutive of corde. More at cord.

## AI Etymology
Cordon is from Middle English cordon, from Middle French cordon, from Old French cordon, diminutive of corde. More at cord. Important recorded forms include cordon (Middle English). Current senses include a line of people or barriers placed around an area to guard or block it, to close off an area with a line of guards or barriers, and a ribbon worn across the chest as a sign of honour or rank.

## Topics
- People & Society

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